Photo courtesy of Emily Beaudette
Guests admire the renovated space in the former St. Michael’s Church on Young Street, now home of the South Berwick Public Library, at a reception marking the opening of the Great Hall.

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — “This project has received an enormous amount of support from the community,” said library Director Karen Eger. “We have a list with hundreds of people who have made contributions so far.”After 40 years in the historic Jewett Eastman House, the South Berwick Public Library is in the midst of a large project to transform a former church in the middle of downtown into a beautiful, full-service, 21st century library.South Berwick’s library on 27 Young St., will ultimately move to the former St. Michael’s Church, a building adjacent to Main Street and Central School and will be able to draw residents from downtown and become a focal point in the community. The move from a 1,500-square-foot historic house to a large 6,800-square-foot building will allow for a variety of additional benefits and upsides. On Wednesday, Eger estimated roughly 60 percent of the funds necessary to complete the massive project have been raised since the campaign’s initial launch back in October of 2010. And although the new library isn’t slated to open until January of 2014, interested citizens can still stop by the former St. Michael’s Church and observe some of the building’s most recent changes.“The most common response from library patrons seeing the newly opened Great Hall for the first time is ‘Wow!’” said Patti Mitchem, chair of the capital campaign and board member of the Friends of South Berwick Library. “It is truly beautiful, as inspiring in its current use as it was as a church sanctuary and melds perfectly into the new addition.”With roughly $400,000 left to go until the project’s overall $1 million goal is achieved, Mitchem said the campaign committee will continue to meet with prospective donors to keep the process moving along. “South Berwick’s citizens have truly stepped up and dug deep into their pockets,” she said.Although the newly-renovated Great Hall is currently devoid of chairs, tables, and other basic items, both Eger and Mitchem said future fundraising efforts will help add those furnishings.As Eger stated Wednesday, a large balcony for reading and a large custom-built circulation desk are among items that still need work. A grant next month will help bring in permanent shelving. “This has definitely been a combination effort between the town and the Friends of South Berwick Library,” Eger said. “It has all been a marvelous experience.”